Christina Stenbeck

The digital revolution is changing the way family businesses operate, but tensions can develop when younger executives rush to enter the virtual frontier against the wishes of their more tentative elders. How can companies manage these differences to avoid disputes in the boardroom – or over the dinner table?

When John Winning wanted to start selling washing machines, refrigerators and other whiteware online, his father, who oversaw the family’s Winning Appliances retail operation in Australia, was less than enthusiastic.

The elder Winning “didn’t believe in online”, according to his son, a fourth-generation member of the family business.

Whether its family members taking over top leadership positions, or businesses that have won awards for their employee engagement, we’ve got the leaders steering their family businesses in innovative and interesting directions

Welcome to the Top 50 Family Business Leaders List 2015 – the fifth time CampdenFB has compiled its list of leading lights.